7 Mistakes While Tent Camping | For Beginners

7 mistakes that tent campers and car campers tend to make (especially beginners). I mentioned these other videos:

[simonwright]

As a relative newbie, one big mistake we did was to put the (white) light on inside the tent before zipping up the door. Within seconds, the tent filled with bugs that annoyed us for the remainder of the night!

[cameronf]

All my youth I wanted to go tent camping more than anything. Never did because my mom never wanted to and my dad had lots of bad experiences doing it as a kid, and then I graduated and things just kinda got in the way. But I’m getting to the point I can work in more free time, and I’m lookin forward to trying it out now that I’m an adult and can’t be told no. This is great to watch

[radagastbrown]

Don't over pack but don't forget all those little extras that give you the creature comforts. It's a delicate balance.

[adf]

1. Not testing your tent. 0:32
2. Messing up sleep system 1:32
3. Dressing badly 2:47
4. Underestimating night temps. 4:10
5.overpacking 4:40
6. Not checking facilities 5:45
7. Forgetting kitchen stuff 6:30

[jsavannah]

Tonight I told a friend that I want to set up my new tent once before I leave home. He scoffed at me. Thanks for affirming I was thinking correctly. He almost talked me out of it.

[jerryprice]

I've been tent camping since 1957 and my wife since 1972 and your video really nails it, most excellent advice. Let me also add that as far as sleeping bags go, often times you can get by with a medium or light duty bag by taking a fleece liner that beefs up your bag when it's cold and can be used as a light duty bag when it gets warm out.

[Test-UCKC]

I have a huge problem of overpacking, bringing all the things I don't use and forgetting the minute practical things I could actually use. Thanks for the tips, I'll definitely put this all into consideration from now on.

[maryrentscher]

Loved the ‘over prepare a bit’ for cold at night. Sooo many times I thought we’d never use the extra warm things I brought and they ended up saving our butts from some very uncomfortable nights! Also… always raingear!

[cailin]

I’m a pretty experienced camper, and even me.. I bought a new tent once & didn’t set it up before leaving & when I set it up at the site I ripped the rain fly lol .. so of course it rained hard that night 😑 everyone makes mistakes even the best of us. Just get out there & have fun. It’s all part of the experience

[augustaverbian]

Never ever prioritize "how is the view from your tent" over the where your tent need to set.
I was there, choosing tent location based on the expected view at sunrise, at the following morning I get wet by few hours of rain weather and almost got hypothermia, just because I set the camp on lower ground where all the water flooded my tent

[carmenmartinez]

I never ever lend my gear, several times it came back damaged even a tent came with a hole on the floor and I don’t know if people decide to eat snacks inside, I never do because most of the time I camp in bear country. Only if they’re camping with me I can bring an extra tent for them. I must admit I do over pack but there’s been many times in my 40+ years of extensive camping that saved my…… Since I car/tent camp I have some room to spare and I go for 2-3 weeks at a time, you can’t predict weather etc for that long. Great advice, specially about staying warm, layering etc. And folks please don’t forget to make sure the fire is completely out before going to bed or leaving the campsite even just for a hike.

[robertsherrow]

Good stuff. Avid camper and like the list. Regarding cooler temps at night, as a Midwesterner I was shocked to discover how cold it could get at night in higher elevations out West in the summer and was ill-prepared the first outing at 8, 000 feet. While temps may be in mid to upper 80s during the day, they can fall to the low forties (or lower) at night and my summer-weight sleeping bag just wasn’t cutting it. Now I carry a toasty cold-weather bag on my sojourns out west and very happy with the investment.

[lindatisue]

An emergency mylar blanket is super useful. Light weight doesn't take up space, of course can be used as a blanket but also a can be used as a tarp. If the wind kicks up use it between the rain fly and tent body conserve some heat, got a leak use it as an ersatz rain fly, need to take a leak wrap it around you to keep your bum warm.
Pocket hand warmers are great if you are camping in cool weather, just put them in your sleeping bag. Even if it's warm a little heat can be soothing for achey ankles and feet.

[konstantinbogus]

Quite the best video i've seen for the amateurs.
Watching that after finding out my brand new tent misses the stakes (which should have been included)

[francoisnguyen]

I haven’t gone camping in years. Since I was a teen. This these tips are helpful refresher.

[williamdiment]

Excellent video, watched in preparation for my next camping trip after not having been for a while. Liked the comment about how cold nights can get even if its warm during the day - a pro move i remember myself making was bringing a heavy (ish) jacket to Moab in the spring of 2015 - It was 78-79 during the day, but got down to 38ish at night! Felt good to have that extra layer on - deserts can get colder than people think!

[jaysbooshcraft]

Yep I have forgotten dish soap, a dish drying cloth and spatula too (seperate trips haha). In terms of the main camping gear I'm usually good but did once forget my super useful bandana because i last minute changed bags and it was in one of the pockets of the bag i didn't take. Great video, lot of truths I can vouch for. Remember one of my first camping trips with a friend, he didn't take a mat and bought one mid trip, he slept in multiple clothes in his sleeping bag but felt cold, with even cheap mat- problem solved.

[emilyfalcone]

Should have watched this before my last trip to the snow. I was so concerned with dressing warm enough it didn't even occur to me how wet I'd get. Leather boots, cotton socks, cotton jeanes, all soaked and frozen solid before I even got the tent up!

[bolt]

First big mistake. Forgetting to bring that powerful boom box with a good selection of heavy metal and rap CDs. This will help make you popular with your camping neighbors.

[judifreeland]

I’ve never been camping! This is helpful thanks